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21 Fall Bourbon Cocktails 

I am a bourbon girl. My husband always goes for the margaritas, but my cocktail MUST have a little whiskey in it! As we descend into fall and the days get shorter and colder, I love to have a cocktail once in a while to warm me up and lift my spirits! So, today, I am sharing 21 (how fitting?) bourbon cocktails that are perfect for Fall!

You can make one when you’re home alone on a Saturday night, or make a whole flight of cocktails for an adult Halloween party. These bourbon cocktails are perfect for any occasion where you need to unwind or treat yo-self. Anyway, enough jabbering, let’s get to the alcohol! 

Here’s a list of my fav bourbon cocktail recipes:

21 Fall Bourbon Cocktails 

Bourbon Sour

Bourbon Sour | Fall Bourbon Cocktails 
Whiskey Sour drink in a bar environment.

Y’all, this is MY DRINK. All time fav. If I am somewhere ordering drinks, this is always my first pick of the night. It’s not even a question. Anyway, here’s how you make it:

Ingredients 

  • 2 parts good bourbon
  • 1 part Cointreau
  • 1 part fresh squeezed orange juice (optional)
  • ½ part fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 egg white per drink
  • Maple syrup to taste (add a little at a time) 
  • Angostura orange bitters 

Instructions

First, put one large ice cube in a whisky glass. Next, shake bourbon, Cointreau, egg whites, orange juice, lemon juice, and maple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Strain and pour it over the ice cube. Finally, add a few drops of Angostura orange bitters. PERFECTION.   

Maple Old Fashioned

Maple Old Fashioned
Fall cocktail with a charred orange garnish

If you want to make another cocktail using the same ingredients as the bourbon sour, this is a great choice to shake things up a bit! 

Ingredients

  • 2 fl oz bourbon 
  • ⅓ fl oz maple syrup
  • 2 pinches of orange bitters
  • Angostura orange bitters
  • Orange zest twist 

Instructions

In one glass, add ice, bourbon, maple syrup, and orange bitters and stir. Strain and pour the mixture into an ice-filled whisky glass. Garnish it with an orange zest twist. 

Blackberry Bourbon Smash

Here’s a refreshing and fruity bourbon cocktail that’s perfect for harvest season! It pairs perfectly with a cheeseboard or even brunch with the girls. Especially if you’re not into the classic brunch-mimosas.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 tsp of sugar
  • 3-4 basil leaves
  • ½ lime
  • ¼ C frozen blackberries
  • 2 oz of bourbon
  • 2 oz club soda

Instructions

First, grab a whisky glass filled with ice. Then, in a cocktail shaker, add the sugar, basil, lime, blackberries, and bourbon. Use a muddler to muddle the berries, basil, lime, and sugar, add a bunch of ice and shake. Strain and pour over ice and top with club soda. You can further garnish with basil, berries, and lime if you want! Either way, it’s the perfect fresh bourbon cocktail!

Bourbon Spiked Apple Cider

Bourbon spiked apple cider? Is there anything more fall than that? It’s the best holiday party cocktail to please any guest. (Unless they don’t like whiskey. But, then why’d you invite them anyway?) 

Ingredients

  • 4 ½ C apple cider 
  • 1 TB orange juice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 8 oz of bourbon
  • 4 sleeves of orange
  • Sugar 

Instructions

Rub the rim of a glass with sugar while you boil the apple cider, cinnamon stick, orange juice, cloves, and star anise in a pot. Once it’s boiling, lower to simmer for 10 minutes. Then, remove it from the heat and strain into a pitcher. In your prepared glass, add 2 oz of bourbon, and 1 C of cider mix. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick. This one has enough for four glasses, so repeat this a few more times for the enjoyment of all your guests.  

Apple Butter Old Fashioned

Here’s another dreamy bourbon cocktail that literally tastes like a fall dessert. 

Ingredients:

  • Sugar
  • Apple cider 
  • Juice from ½ a lemon 
  • Dash of orange bitters
  • 1 TB apple butter
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • Ginger beer
  • Thinly sliced apple and cinnamon 

Instructions: 

Rim the glass with sugar and fill it with ice. Next, add the apple cider, lemon juice, orange bitters, apple butter, and bourbon into a cocktail shaker. Then, shake it up! Once it’s combined,  strain and pour into the prepared glass. Top with ginger beer and garnish with the cinnamon and apples. There’s your festive holiday treat!

Bourbon Sidecar

If you like tart drinks, these sidecars will be totally up your alley. This is a classic cocktail that’s super refreshing and energizing! 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz of bourbon
  • 1 oz triple sec
  • ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Lemon or orange twist for garnish

Instructions:

Shake all the ingredients plus a bunch of ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain and pour into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or orange twist. That’s it! Super easy and delicious!

New York Sour

This is a twist on my favorite drink, the bourbon sour! This one uses red wine for a dry, fruity flavor. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white
  • ½ oz red wine

Instructions:

Fill a whiskey glass with ice. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg white in the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake. Then, strain and pour into the prepared glass. Finally, pour red wine slowly over the back of a bar spoon into the glass. This will make it float to the top of the glass for a super cool effect. Beautiful and delicious! 

Kentucky Mule

I much prefer bourbon to vodka. I think it provides way more flavor and pairs super well with ginger beer! So, this is another version of a Moscow Mule, but with bourbon instead of the usual vodka. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • ½ oz freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ginger beer
  • Mint sprig

Instructions:

In a highball glass, add the bourbon and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with a mint sprig. Doesn’t get much easier than that!

Whisky Highball

Many consider a whisky highball a summer drink, but I think it’s the perfect fall cocktail! It’s a great light drink right before a heavy holiday meal, so I’ve added it to the list. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • 4 oz ginger ale
  • Lemon wedge

Instructions:

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour the whisky and ginger ale directly into the glass. Squeeze the lemon wedge over the drink and serve. Cocktail hour, anyone?

Bourbon Manhattan

I just recently discovered this drink, and I am in love! The caramelly, oaky flavor of bourbon combined with the sweet vermouth provides a perfectly balanced drink. YUM!

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 oz bourbon whiskey
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • 2-3 dashes of Angostura
  • Maraschino cherry
  • Orange peel

Instructions:

Fill a martini glass with ice to chill it. Pour bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters, and ice into a shaker. Shake a bit. Dump the ice out of the martini glass. Then, strain and pour the shaker contents into the martini glass. Finally, garnish with the orange peel and cherry! 

Gold Rush

With honey as a main ingredient for this drink, it’s totally smooth and comforting. I think it also makes it perfect for fall! 

Ingredients: 

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • ¾ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¾ oz honey syrup 

Instructions:

Fill a whiskey glass with ice. Then, add all the ingredients and some ice into a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain and pour into your ice-filled glass. That’s all! So easy and so tasty!

Boulevardier

Here’s another cocktail that benefits from the combo of bourbon and sweet vermouth! 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 ¼ oz bourbon
  • A single oz Campari
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • Orange twist

Instructions:

Fill a rocks glass with ice. In another glass, add bourbon, Campari, and sweet vermouth with ice and stir. Then, strain it into the whiskey glass and garnish with an orange twist. Super refreshing! 

Cranberry Bourbon Lemonade

Lemonade for fall? Yes! This cranberry variation is ideal for the changing season! 

Ingredients:

  • 3 C of lemonade (pre-made or make your own from scratch!)
  • 1-2 C of bourbon
  • 1-2 C of cranberry juice
  • Cranberries
  • Lemon slices

Instructions:

Add lemonade, cranberry juice, and bourbon in a pitcher and stir it up. Pour desired amounts into glasses and garnish with cranberries and lemon slices. Finally, serve and share this fresh fall drink!

Bourbon Swizzle

If you’re looking for something more complex, here’s an adventurous cocktail that packs a lot of flavor! 

Ingredients:

  • 3 mint sprigs
  • 1 ½ oz bourbon 
  • 1 oz fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ oz of simple syrup
  • ¼ oz of ginger syrup 
  • 3 dashes aromatic bitters
  • 3 dashes peychaud’s bitters

Instructions:

Add ice and mint sprigs to a highball glass. Then, in another glass, add bourbon, simple syrup, and ginger syrup. Stir and then strain the cocktail into the highball glass. Swizzle to keep the mint on the bottom. Add more ice and garnish with your bitters and more mint! Take a drink and say, “Ahhhhhhh . . .”

Bourbon Bloody Mary

Brunch with the girls? Make this fun twist on a Bloody Mary! 

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ oz bourbon
  • 4 oz Bloody Mary mix
  • 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 slice of bacon
  • 1 sprinkle of bacon bits

Instructions:

Fill a highball glass with ice. Then, simply pour in bourbon, Bloody Mary mix, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix with a bar spoon. Finally, garnish with a bacon strip and bacon bits. SO GOOD. Bacon on my plate and in my drink? Thank you very much. 

BLT

Okay, not MORE bacon. BLT in this instance actually stands for bourbon, lemon, and tonic! This cocktail is super easy to make and super delicious! 

Ingredients:

  • 1 ⅓ oz bourbon
  • 4 oz tonic water
  • Lemon wedge

Instructions:

Fill a Collins glass with ice and pour bourbon and tonic water over the ice. Stir it up and garnish with the lemon wedge. The perfect drink to treat yourself after a busy workday! 

Mint Julep

It really wouldn’t be a bourbon cocktail list without this classic drink! Bourbon and mint is the perfect combo, and it pairs well with all fall comfort food!

Ingredients:

  • 8 mint leaves
  • ¼ oz simple syrup
  • 2 oz bourbon
  • Mint sprig
  • Angostura bitters

Instructions:

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in the bottom of a Julep cup. Pour in bourbon and pack the glass with crushed ice. Stir! Top it with more ice to form a dome. Finally, garnish with mint sprigs and a few drops of bitters. This drink is beautiful to the eyes and delightful to the tastebuds!

Millionaire

I loooooove tart bourbon drinks. Here’s another sour one for all of you out there like me!

Ingredients: 

  • 2 oz bourbon
  • ¾ oz Grand Marnier 
  • ¼ oz absinthe
  • ½ oz grenadine
  • ½ oz egg white
  • Nutmeg
  • ½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions:

Pour bourbon, Grand Mariner, absinthe, grenadine, egg white, and lemon juice into a shaker and shake. Then, add ice and shake again. Strain the mixture into a chilled glass and garnish with nutmeg! Earthy and tart for a wonderful fall combination. 

Ginger Rabbit

Here’s a sweet and spicy combo that gives me all the fall vibes! It reminds me of all the spiced desserts we attribute to this season. 

Ingredients:

  • ½ oz star anise and black-tea infused simple syrup
  • 1 slice fresh ginger
  • 1 strip lemon peel
  • 2 oz Basil Hayden’s bourbon
  • ½ oz Creme Yvette
  • 1 dash angostura bitters

Instructions:

Fill a whisky glass with ice. In another glass, add simple syrup and ginger. Then, drop in the lemon peel and muddle at the bottom of the glass. Add bourbon creme Yvette, bitters, and ice. Stir. Finally, strain the mixture into the whisky glass. Creamy, spicy, and sweet. Yum!

Bourbon Lift

Any coffee lovers out there? Y’all, I know you’re there, and this drink is for you! 

Ingredients:

  • ½ oz coffee liqueur
  • 1 ½ oz bourbon
  • ½ oz heavy cream
  • ½ oz orgeat
  • Club soda

Instructions:

Pour bourbon, coffee liqueur, heavy cream, and orgeat into a cocktail shaker and shake. Add ice and shake again. Strain and pour the mixture into a Collins glass. Top it off with club soda. Serve with a straw and enjoy the creamy coffee goodness. It’s a pick-me-up in more ways than one! 

Bourbon Hot Toddy

With ingredients like honey, cloves, and cinnamon, there’s no way this bourbon drink ain’t for fall. Plus, it’s served hot! Y’all, this is the last one on this list and it’s another go-to for me this season!

Ingredients: 

  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 oz bourbon
  • 2 TB honey
  • 2 TB lemon juice
  • 4 cloves

Instructions

Boil two cups of water in a tea kettle. When it’s done, separate the water between two mugs. Divide the bourbon, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in the two mugs. Stir it up, let it cool a bit, and enjoy this cozy fall cocktail. 

Choose one of these delicious bourbon cocktails for your next fall event!

Whether you’re having a bunch of people over for a friends-giving or you just need a drink after a long day at work, one of these bourbon cocktails is sure to please! These spirits will lift your spirits and add some adventure to your drinking experience. Yes, please!

Shop Modern Barware

Don’t forget to pair your cocktails with these modern barware favorites!

bar cart favorites, modern barware

As always, drink responsibly, and be sure to come back and tell me which drink you tried and loved. And, for more content like this, check out my blog! I’ve got all the tips and tricks you need to take your day from lifeless to LUTZURIOUS!

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